University of South Carolina-Union is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Union, South Carolina. It enrolls 270 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes49
Value57
Affordability34
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 62.2%, University of South Carolina-Union is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
62.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of South Carolina-Union is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
21.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of South Carolina-Union isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,065 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,065
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
10%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
6%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,558
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,238
Room & Board (off-campus)
$6,708
Books & Supplies
$792
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,080
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,112
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,340
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,918
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,482
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,146
Over $110,000
$12,638
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,06625%percentile
$11,000Medianpercentile
$11,00075%percentile
$22,92890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,500
↓ $5,500
No Pell $6,179
↓ $4,821
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $9,498
↓ $1,502
Female students $5,500
↓ $5,500
Male students $6,500
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($11,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
16% of full-time students who enrolled at University of South Carolina-Union graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
16%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of South Carolina-Union earn a median of $33,699 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$33,699
Earning > $25K
59%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$29,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,500, about 31% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 42% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of South Carolina-Union is home to 270 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
270
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 71.5%193
Black 14.1%38
International 7.4%20
Hispanic 3.0%8
Other 3.0%8
Asian 0.7%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of South Carolina-Union. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantUnion, South Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of South Carolina-Union offers
a focused set of programs:
1 distinct programs across
1 major.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina-Union is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,417
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.7M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,590
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
18 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
1
6%
$77,768
Associate Professors
5
28%
$73,973
Assistant Professors
4
22%
$57,007
Instructors
8
44%
$60,870
Pros & Cons of University of South Carolina-Union
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of South Carolina-Union tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, University of South Carolina-Union is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of South Carolina-Union
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of South Carolina-Union.
Is University of South Carolina-Union hard to get into?
Admissions at University of South Carolina-Union are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 62.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Union?
University of South Carolina-Union has an acceptance rate of 62.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of South Carolina-Union cost?
The average net price after aid at University of South Carolina-Union is $8,065 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of South Carolina-Union worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $33,699 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,065 per year. That's roughly 4.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of South Carolina-Union known for?
University of South Carolina-Union is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of South Carolina-Union graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of South Carolina-Union are $33,699, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of South Carolina-Union accredited?
Yes. University of South Carolina-Union is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of South Carolina-Union?
University of South Carolina-Union enrolls 270 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Union?
University of South Carolina-Union graduates 16% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of South Carolina-Union a public or private college?
University of South Carolina-Union is a Public institution.
Where is University of South Carolina-Union located?
University of South Carolina-Union is located in Union, South Carolina.
What programs does University of South Carolina-Union offer?
University of South Carolina-Union offers 1 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina-Union?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina-Union is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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